Pump for centralized lubricating systems



Aug i 1933. o. u. ZERK PUMP FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Am, 29,, 3933. o. u. ZERK PUMP FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1929 Aug. 29, 1933. o. u. ZERK 1,924,673

PUMP FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 s Shts-Sheet s a. l I I Patented Aug.

UNITED STA PUIWP FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRIATING SYZSTEMS Oscar U. Zerk, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Alemite Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation. of

Delaware Application November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,116

14 Claims. (01. 184-27) My invention relates to an air or oil pump operated by an oscillating movement between two parts wherein the length of the oscillatory movement varies but whereby only a predetermined movement, preferably the initial parts of movement in opposite direction, are'employed to operate the pump piston. That is to say, the beginning of the oscillatory movement in one direction is employed to move the pump piston to make the w discharge stroke and the beginning of the return movement of the oscillatory motion is employed to move the pump piston to make the suction stroke. While springs or other means may be used to make the return or suction stroke, I prefer 15 to accomplish the return movement of the piston without the use of a spring or spri ngs.

Irregular oscillating movements occur in many forms of industrial machinery but more particularly in vehicles, as for'example, the oscillatory movement between frame and axle. The relative movement between frame and axle has been employed by others for lubricating purposes heretofore, but has failed, due to the fact that on rough roads an excessive amount of lubricant has been pumped in .comparison with that pumped on smooth roads.

My experiments with this type of centralizedlubrication have'shown that the number of relative movements between the frame and axle of a vehicle, particularly in the case ofautomobiles, does not vary greatly whether going over rough roads or smooth roads. However, the relatively amplitude of motion varies greatly in various types of roads.

the movement of the inertia weight depends upon a previous relativemovement between frame and axle, many of these movements on smooth roads are lost and the numberpf relative movements of the inertia weight on smooth'roads, as compared with rough roadsjwill greatly vary, at least much more than will the number of movemnts made by a piston which is operated directly from the relative movement between frame and axle. 4

The chief object of my invention is to employ only the beginning of the relative movement between frame and axle to operate the piston of the air pump or lubricant pump.

Another object of my invention is to employ a mechanism which connects the shock absorber to the axle as a means for actuating the pump.

Another object of my invention is, to actuate the piston of the' pump, fastened to the frame,

by a frictional movement derived from the move- In inertia operated pumps where Another object of my invention is to. reduce wear by reducing the length of the entire fric-w tional movement by connecting the vertical pump operating rod at any suitable radial distance from the center of the horizontal shock absorber lever or other suitable member to secure a motion reduction. c

Another object of my invention is to provide universal jointsin connection with the aforesaid driving mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism which will prevent dust and grit from entering the air pump, first, by covering the air inlet with a tubular protective shield of sufiicient length and second by adding an air filter.

A further object .of the invention is to provide means whereby the friction between vthe two moving members remains substantially the same. Preferably in this connection I employ a spring bearing against a graphite asbestos packing.

Another object of my invention is to lubricate all moving parts of this pumping mechanism in series.

A further object of my invention is to provide in, connection with this particular type of pump an air compression chamber and valve means which will open when the air pressure in the pressure chamber has reached the predetermined value.

A further object of my invention is to place the 5 air compression chamber in such position that the condensed moisture from the compressed air will not interfere with the valve action of the pump even though the same should be frozen in cold weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air pressure reservoir which will not be interfered with by the freezing of water therein in cold weather.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the artwith the manner of constructing and operating a device embodying my invention, I shall describe in connection withpthe accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of the same.

Invthe drawings in which like reference char 1 connected by a vehicle spring 2 to the axle.

, tion', more clearly indicated in Figure 2. This Figure 4' is a vertical axial section taken on a plane and right angle to the section shown in Figure 2 of the upper end of the unit; a

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view partly in' section showing the centralized supply for lubricant and the pressure operative pump for'pumping lubricant to the pipe-line system; and

Figure '7 is an enlarged elevational view of a metering unit embodying my invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, I have shown herein the front end of an automobile chassis frame member 3 bearing the wheel indicated in dotted lines at 4. Between the axle 3 and the frame 1, a shock absorber 5 of known or any preferred type is connected. This shock absorber has a pair of chambers 6--6 in which plungers operate to resist motion between the frame and axle as maybe desired. The plungers in the chambers 6-6 are operated through a linkage including a lever '7 secured to an operating shaft 8 of the shock absorber about which the lever 7 operates, and a link 9 which at its lower end is connected to the axle or any member moving therewith.

The spring is connected to the front horn of the frame through a spring bolt 10 and is connected at the rear end to a shackle 12 through the medium of shackle bolts 13 and 14.

The pump of my invention is shown at 15 being mounted by a mounting bracket 16 upon the front fender bracket 17, and having an operating plunger 18 which is connected to the shock absorber lever '7 through a universal connecconnection between the plunger 18 and the lever 7 comprises a universal joint of known type. The pump 15 has a chamber or reservoir 20 which is connected through a suitable pressure release valve 22, to be described presently, to an air pressure delivery pipe 23 leading to the reservoir and pump unit 25, which is mounted upon the dash board or bulk head 24 of the automobile.

The reservoir pump unit 25 has a lubricant delivery pipe 26 connected through a suitable connection to a pipe-line system indicated generally at 27 having metering units at 28 leading to the shackle bolts 13 and 14, abranch connection 29 leading by way of a flexible hose 30 to the front axle bearing and by a branch 32 to a metering unit 33 for distributing lubricant to front wheel brake mechanism 34, and having further a metering unit 35 leading to the bearing of the spring bolt 10. The pipe-line system 2'7 may have other branch metering units and connections, as will be'understood by those skilled in the having pipe sockets for the pipes or tubes 3838 forming a part of the pipe-line system, and having a coupling screw 40 threaded with straight thread into a suitable threaded socket 39 to place the lower end of the body 42 in communication with a passage-way 43 leading into the bearing 44. A suitable resistance plug is secured to the threaded plug 45, which closes the upper end of the cross shaped body. This form of resistance unit is suitable for distribution of grease, which the present system is intended to distribute.

Obviously if the pump and reservoir units were required to distribute oil, the metering units would be of a suitable character for distributing and holding the same.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, I shall describe the power supply pump.

The power supply pump comprises a frame member 46 having the foot or clamping bracket 16 by which the same is adapted to be mounted, as uponthe front fender bracket 17. The frame 46 has a threaded socket 47 at the rear thereof and into this threaded socket is screwed the threaded neck 48 of the, reservoir member 20. This reservoir member 20 is preferably made up of two sheet metal parts joined together and soldered to make a fluid tight container. The neck 48 is flanged inwardly, as indicated at 49, to form a suitable bearing against a gasket 50 which is disposed in the bottom of the threaded socket to form a fluid tight joint.

The frame 46 comprises a central portion which may be termed a cylinder member 52 since it contains a central bore 53 in which the plunger or piston 54 is closely fitted. About the cylinder member 52 there is formed a downwardly directed threaded socket 55 into which is threaded the upper end of the tubular shield 56. A vertical drilling 57 and a communicating horizontal drilling 58 provides an inlet passageway terminating in an overrun port opening into the cylinder bore 53. r

A plunger 54 is adapted to travel down below the end of the passageway 58, that is the inlet port, to permit atmospheric pressure to enter the cylinder upon making the suction stroke. The suction stroke must be completed otherwise air is not admitted.

prevent the entryof grit or foreign matter to the intake passageways 5758.

A resilient bumper, 63 which may be made of.

cork or the like surrounds the lower end of the piston 54 and serves to prevent pounding of the cross-head member 64 against the boss 60 upon the completion of an upward stroke.

The cross-head 64 comprises a button mem ber secured upon the upper end of the operating rod 65 which actuates the piston 54. This button'64 has an opening through the upper end of the same through which the piston 54 projects, the lowerend of the piston being provided with shoulders or projections formed by pinching the metal thereof laterally, these shoulders 66 preventing the escape of the lower end ofthe piston 54 from the button or cross-head member 64. 1

The lower end of the button or cross-head member 64 has a threaded socket which is threaded upon the upper end of the operating rod 65. The button-or cross-head 64 has a guiding function within the tubular shield 56 and furthermore has a function oflimiting the extent of stroke of the piston 54', both downwardly and upwardly. The upward limit is defined by the bumper 63, and the lower limit of the stroke is likewise defined by a, stop member comprising a ring of 'sheet metal 67 of angular cross section disposed within the upper end of 'a tubular shield 56, and held in place by a bead pressed inwardly in the walls of the shield 56. A resilient bumper 68 is'carried on the upper service of the stop. 67

to prevent noise and to prevent pounding. The stop ring 6'7 and the bumper ring 68 loosely embrace the operating rod so as to provide a relatively large air passageway forCair to be taken into the cylinder of the pump.

valve and cooperates with the seat member '73 to form a fluid tight valve. A light discharge check valve spring '75 bears at its upper end against the pin which holds the cup leather against thebottom of the plug 70 and bears at its lower end against the discharge check valve A discharge passageway 76 leads from the chamber 69 into the reservoir 20, this passageway being disposed at the upper end of the threaded socket 47 so that ,moisture which may condense in the reservoir 20,. as indicated at '77, will not readily find its way into the discharge check valve chamber but will be trapped below the same.

The discharge check valve chamber 69 communicates through a passageway '78 with the pressure release valve 22, which has a chamber formed as a counterbore in a part of the cylinder frame member 46. The passageway '78 terminates in a port having a yielding valve seat '79 adapted to be engaged by the central projecting part of a sheet metal valve member 30 which is applied to its seat by the compression spring 82. This compression spring seats in a socket formed in the center of the screw plug 83 and a spring pocket communicates by way of a passageway 84 through a screen 85 to atmosphere. The screen 85 is held in the outer end of plug 83 by a ring 86. The inner end of the plug 83 has a yielding or resilient annular seat member 8'7 against which the margins of the valve 80 are adapted to be pressed when said valve is forced open by pressure of compressed air in the chamber 20. I

An air pressure delivery pipe 23 is connected to the interior of the pressure release valve chamber. The pipe 23 is connected in a suitable socket 88 through a compression coupling 89 of a type heretofore disclosed and claimed by me in a copending application. When the valve member 80 is pressed against its seat to retain pressure in the chamber 20, the space back of the said valve member 80 which communicates with atmosphere also communicates with the air pressure delivery pipe 23. In other words, the pipe 23 is put into communication with'atmosphere when the valve member 80 is applied to its pressure retaining seat and the pipe 23 is put into communication with pressure of the reservoir 20 when the valve is applied to its back seat 8'7.

The A operating stem 65 extends downward through a tubular guide member 56, which extends below the stop member 6'7 to protect the connection between said operating rod 65 and the member -90. The coupling member 90 coupling comprises a tubular member connectedv by a universal joint of known construction 19 to the shock absorber arm '7. This joint 19 comprises a bolt 92 having a round he 93 disposed within the lower end of thetubul member 90 and provided with spherical bearing members 94 and 95. The upper member 94 is held in place by a bead L96 formed in the side walls of the tubular mem- 80' ber 90 and the lower member is forced against the spherical head 93 by the compression-spring 9'7, which is retained by the cap member 98 threaded upon the lower open end of the tubular member 90. I

A suitable felt washer or other like gasket 99 is disposed about the neck of the ball 93 to ex-- clude dirt, grit or moisture. The upper bearingmember 94 is provided with a passageway 100 to permit oil to reach the universal bearing.

The tubular member 90 has a bead 102 formed therein. A packing retainer member 103' of frusto-conical form is disposed within the tubular member 90 and serves to retain an asbestos graphite packing 104, which is held under pres-- 95 sure-by a similar ring member 105 at its upper end and a compression spring 106 to grip the lower end of the operating rod65.

A hollow retaining plug 107 is threaded into the upper internal end of the tubular member 90 .and 10 compresses the spring 106 so. as to maintain a substantially constant friction between the packing 104 and the rod 65.

For the purpose of lubricating the pump and operating parts, a lubricating unit 110 is mounted 105 upon the frame member 46 adjacent the supporting foot or bracket 16. The body of the'lubricating unit 110 is connected by coupling screw 112 in a suitable straight threaded socket formed in the frame member, this socket having a gasket 113 110 for making a tight joint. A passageway 114 extends-into a cored opening 115, the outer end of which is closed by plug member 116.

Adjacent the bottom wall of the cored opening 115, I provide a passageway 117 for permitting 4 such lubricant as is dropped into the opening 115 j to enter the cylinder bore and lubricate the piston 54.

The lubricating unit may be of any preferred typethough preferably it is of the type shown and claimed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 370,245. This unit has a pair of connecting pipes 118 and 119 to permit a body of oil to be propelled by pneumatic pressure therethrough andhas a check valve 120 adapted to be driven to 5 its seat upon the application of such pressure and to be raised from its seat by the spring 122 to permit oil to pass by gravity through the passageway 114.

Such oil as reaches the cylinder bore tends to lubricate the piston and to pass down by gravity along the piston 54 through the opening in the button member 64 and from thence passing on down through a groove 123 in the operating stem 65 through the packing 104 and passageway 100 3.5 and through the universal joint 19. Thus all of the elements are lubricated in series.

The centralized lubricant dispensing unit 25 comprises a glass reservoir 125 suspended from a frame member 126, which has a supporting foot or' bracket 12'? adapted to be bolted to the the same and a fluid pressure operated pump for withdrawing lubricant from the reservoir 125 and discharging the same into the delivery pipe 26 and thence through the pipe-line to the bearings. The air supply pipe 23 is connected to the motor cylinder 129, which forms a part of the main frame member 126 through a suitable compression coupling 130 connected to an integral boss 132 formed on the cylinder 129. The cylinder 129 has an integral pump cylinder 134 formed therewith and this pump cylinder 134 has inlet valve and discharge mechanism in the chambers which are closed by the plugs 135 and I 136, respectively. A plunger member 137 comprising a pumping piston 138 and a connected motor piston 139 is adapted to be driven to the left to make a discharge stroke by the application of fluid pressure, that is compressed air, through the pipe 23 and this plunger is adapted to make a suction stroke of the pump when the compressed .air is released through the action of the compression spring 140 acting upon said plunger.

The cylinder 129 has a cylinder head member 142 threaded into the end of cylinder129 and this cylinder head 142 has a boss 143 forming a housing for the flow resistance plug 144, the outer endof which flow resistance plug communicates through atmospheric ports 145 to atmosphere, the inner end of which flow resistance plug com- 'municates through a filter 146 with the motor chamber.

The resistance plug'l l4 has a helical passageway of known type oflering a relatively high resistance to the escape of compressed air from the motor chamber 147 to atmosphere.

The operation of the pump, shown in Figures 2 to 5, will now be described. As the automobile encounters irregularities in-the road, the axle3 will have relative motion with respect to the frame 1 resulting in operation of the shock absorber lever 7'. The oscillatory motion which thus occurs raises and lowers the tubular member 18 with respect to the frame member 46. His immaterial what the normal flexure of the springs 2 may be since the grip of the frictional member 90 will permit the operating rod 65 to take any suitable position with respect to said member 18. Assuming that the rod 65 has pressed the plunger 54 upwardly,to the limit of its stroke and that the succeeding motion is the separation of frame" and axle, the initial par of such separating motion will pull the rod 65 downwardly to make a suction" stroke of the pump."

When, however, the motion has.proceeded to a point where the head or button 64 engages the stop 67, continued separation of the frame and axle will no longer be transmitted to the rod 65 1 but slippage between the rod 65 and the gripping member 90 will occur. Immediately upon reversal of-motion, that is approach of the frame and axle relative to each other, the initial approaching movement will be transmitted to the rod 65 through the friction of the gripping member 90,

and the plunger 54 will be pressed upwardly to' the valve 22 is set, the valve member will be thrown from its facing seat and will be driven upon its back seat cutting off the atmospheric communication between atmosphere and the air pressure delivery pipe 23, compressed air being delivered' from the chamber 20 to the motor chamber 147 in the motor cylinder 129. This will drive the plunger 137 to the'left to make a discharge stroke of the lubricant pump, thereby forcing a predetermined small quantity of grease or other lubricant through the delivery pipe 26 I and into the pipe line system and through the metering units such small quantity of lubricant will be distributed among the bearings all in the predetermined proportion.

The delivery ofcompressed air to the motor chamber 147 would tend to hold the pressure release valve 80 against'its back seat and to hold the plunger at the inward end of its stroke until leakage permitted the same to drop to a point where the spring 82 of the pressure release "valve is strong enough to apply the valve again to its front seat, thereby permitting exhaust of the compressed air in the motor chamber and connected part to atmosphere. For the purpose of insuring a predetermined rate of bleeding down of pressure, I have provided a definite path of escape past the resistance 'plug 144. Any other suitable means for bleeding down the pressure might be employed, such for example, as the hydraulic seal shown in Figures 9, 11 and 12 of my copending application No. 394,363.

Ido not intend to be limited to the details shown and described, nor do I intend to limit the invention to the pumpingof air as obviously the same construction of pump may be employed for pump oil from a reservoir unit to the bearings if so desired, or may pump grease or any other fluid or semi-fluid either directly or indirectly. It will 'be observed that there are two universal joints between the pumping piston of the pump and the operating member, namely, the cross head or button member 64 and the universal joint 19. This is desirable in view of the fact that one wheel may rise or drop independently of the other and thus tend to approach or recede from the frame slightly laterally. The-tubular member '56 provides a number of functions among which are, first. a shield for protecting the working parts, next a guide for the button on cross head 64 and also a suitable air intake and guard for the filter 62; While I have shown a specific method of lubricating the parts, it'is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited to this particular method of lubrication, and in fact I may dependupon a solid lubrication for the pumping plunger 54 and independent means of lubrication for the other parts.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cylinder frame havingacylinder bore, a piston in the bore, a discharge check valve housing at one end of the bore, a discharge check valve therein, a socket communicating withsaid housing, a reservoir member having a stem secured into said socket, said 'cylinder frame having a valve housing, a pressure controlled valve in 'said housing, said pressure controlled valvevhousing communicating with said reservoir, a socket at the end of the cylinder 4 2. In combination, a cylinder frame providing a cylinder having a cylinder bore, a piston in the cylinder bore, a discharge check valve for.

the cylinder, there being an annularrecess about the lower end of the cylinder, an'inlet passageway extending from said recess into the cylinder" bore to provide an inlet port adapted to be overnm by the piston, a tubular shield secured into said annular recess and an annular filter member disposed in the upper end of said tubular shield and engaging the lower end of the cylinder.

3. In combination, a cylinder frame providing a cylinder having a cylinder bore, a piston in the cylinder bore, a discharge check valve for,the cylinder, there being an annular recess about the lower end of the cylinder, an inlet passageway extending from said recess into the cylinder bore to provide an inlet port adapted to be overrun by the piston, and an annular air filter in said arrnular'recess, an operating rod for the piston, and stop means for limiting the throw of the piston in either direction.

4. In combination, a cylinder frame having a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an operating rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and the piston, a guide for the universal joint, said guide being connected to the cylinder frame, said cylinder having an intake passageway combined with the guide, and a filter for said intake passageway disposed in said guide. 5. In combination, a cylinder frame having a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an operating rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and the piston, a tubular extension for said rod, said tubula'r extension having a packing frictionally engaging the rod and carrying at its remote end a universal joint.

6. In combination, a cylinder frame having a,

cylinder, 2. piston in the cylindenan operating rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and the 1 piston, a guide for the universal joint, said guide being connected to the cylinder frame, a tubular member frictionally embracing the rod and having a socket in its lower end, and a pin having a ball head disposed in said socket.

7. In combination, a cylinder frame having a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an operating rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and the piston, a guide for the universal joint, said guide being connected to the cylinder frame, and resilient stop members for engaging the universal joint for limiting the throw of the piston.

8. In combination, a cylinder frame having a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an operating rod, a universal joint connecting the rod and the piston, a guide for the universal joint, said guide being connected to the cylinder frame, a tubular member frictionally embracing the rod and having a socket in its lower end, and a pin having a ball head disposed in said socket, and a resilient stop member for engaging the universal joint to limit the throw of the piston, excess motion of the tubular member causing relative slipping motion with said rod.

9. In combination, a cylinder frame member having a vertical cylinder bore, a plunger guided in said bore, an operating rod for the plunger, a universal joint connecting the plunger and the rod, a tubular member frictionally engaging the lower end of the rod, a universal joint at the lower end of the tubular member, a lubricating passageway being formed in the cylinder frame and communicating with the cylinder bore, said rod having a longitudinal passageway for conducting lubricant to the lower universal joint, said joints having lubricating passageways in communication with said longitudinal passageway.

10. In combination with an automobile having a frame and an axle, a pump having a cylinder mounted on the frame, a piston in the cylinder, a shock absorber between frame and axle, said 'shock absorber having a lever adapted to be swung pivotally by relative motion of frame and axle, anda connecting rod between said lever and said piston for operating said pump.

11. In combination, a pump frame having a base and having a vertically disposed cylinder bore therein, a piston in said bore, said frame having a depending tubular skirt and a thrust rod having a universal joint connection with said piston, said joint being guided in said tubular skirt.

12. In combination, a pump frame having a base and having a vertically disposed cylinder bore therein, a piston in said bore, said frame having a depending tubular skirtv and a thrust rod having a universal joint connection with said piston, said joint being guided in said tubular skirt, said skirt having an annular stop member below said joint.

13. In combination, a pump frame having a base and having a vertically disposed cylinder bore therein, a piston in said bore, said frame having a depending tubular skirt and a thrust rod having a universal joint connection with said piston, said joint being guided in said tubular skirt, an operating member and a slip joint between said operating member and the rod, said slip joint being covered by said skirt.

14.'In combination with a pair of relatively 

